Python provides methods to run shell commands, giving us the same functionality of those shells scripts, with additional support from Python's ecosystem. However, as those tasks become more complex, shell scripts may become harder to maintain.įortunately, we can use Python instead of shell scripts for automation. It is common for developers and system administrators to automate routine tasks like health checks and file backups with shell scripts. You will *reactivate* your virtual environment(s) every time you need to run code related to this project.Repetitive tasks are ripe for automation.

Pip is the Python Package Installer and allows you to install third-party Python software like Django, Numpy, Pandas, and many others. It's a good idea to update pip from time to time. (myvenv) python -m pip install pip -upgrade `myvenv` is the name of the virtual environment (in this case). I create a `Dev` folder on my user account for all of my software projects (Python, JavaScript, etc)ĭo you see how we used `python -m`? The package `venv` is a built-in package to Python so we don't need to install anything else. When in doubt, create a new virtual environment for your project.Īs a beginner, this step might *feel pointless* but I promise as your skills grow you will certainly come to appreciate this step. In other words, your super cool Django web app uses a different version of *Python Requests* than your legacy data science project. Virtual Environments help ensure that our Python projects are isolated from each other. These version changes often break programs regardless of the programming language involved. A big part of the reason this guide exists is to help you install the version you need. It's located in `Applications` / `Utilities` Open Terminal (The Comand Line application). After completion, we need to verify Installation worksħ. Run all the defaults for the installer.Ħ.

Find the installer and open it: It should be named something like `python-3.10.5-macos11.pkg`ĥ. After the download completes, navigate to the `Downloads` folder on your machine.Ĥ. Download **macOS 64-bit universal2 installer**īe sure to download the correct installer based on your processor (Apple Silicon or Intel from the previous step).ģ. Download **macOS 64-bit Intel-only installer**

Under that release, you should have the option for either: Under `Stable Releases` look for: `Python 3.10.X` and replace `X` with the largest number you can find. Installing Python is much like installing any other program: go to their website, download the software, install it.Ģ.

How to run python 3 on mac